rec.autos.simulators

Hi all,

I haven't bought a racing sim since Indy 500, but after playing the
rendition version of ICR2, I'm hooked. However, I've noticed that most
posts, add-ons, race series, etc deal with Nascar 2 rather than
Indycar. So, keeping in mind the usual warnings of asking for
opinions, which is the better game, N2 or ICR2? The one thing I don't
like about Indy is that the cars seem very fragile, barely brushing a
wall seems to trash the front suspension. I would imagine that WC cars
are a little more robust <g>. So, let me know what you think.

Marc

Marc....
I like them both, for their own particular effects.
With N2, it's the overall "driving feel".......the handling of the car, the
sounds, the close racing where, as you mentioned, you CAN brush a wall or
another car without having to pit.  The graphics, of course, certainly add
to the effect.

ICR2 I also like....I haven't played the 3-D enhanced version (yet!) but ,
as an "open-wheeler" sim I get far more enjoyment from ICR2 than I do from
GP2, for instance. I understand what you mean by the cars being "fragile"
when on a realistci setting....I know from watching them that they can take
a bit more biffo in real life than they do in the sim!  So what I do is set
the realism (i.e., car damage) to Arcade and still drive within my limits.
This way, if I do touch a wall, the car stays in one piece.

If you can afford it, I suggest you get them both.  They each offer a lot
of enjoyment and, if you get out of a Nascar and then into an IndyCar,
you'll have a whole different driving experience.

bk

N2 is less than 2 months old, hence all the posts. N2 cars are more
robust than ICR2 cars. I was a big fan of N2 until I got my Canopus
Total3D Rendition card last week.  The Rendition version of ICR2 is
better than N2 IMHO but both are very good.

   In ICR2-3D's favor, it looks and runs fabulously.  As far as
damage, you can choose from no damage, arcade, and realistic modes.
On the downside, its based on a year-old game, so the buzz of
e***ment has by and large passed it by.

   NASCAR2 has a few bugs, but nothing insurmountable.  It benefits
from having the latest technology (spotter, better car handling).  The
downside is that, while Rendition mode helps, it isn't all it could be
(not the quantum leap of ICR2 --> ICR2-3D).  Rumors of a Rendition-
enhancing patch, but that may be a lot of wishful thinking.

   You're going to have to buy a Rendition card to run these anyways,
and ICR2-3D comes bundled with 3 of the 4 cards on the market
(Intergraph Intense 3D 100 [$149 'til 1/31, last I heard], Sierra
Screamin' 3D, and Canopus Total3D).  In other words, don't buy the
Creative Labs 3D Blaster PCI since it doesn't include ICR2-3D.  Enjoy
ICR2-3D for a few months, save your money, and then pick up NASCAR2.
It's a plan...  :)

Before you send me UCE, I know what you're thinking...  Did he complain
to five or six postmasters last month?  Now, you must ask yourself one
question: "Do I feel lucky?"  Well, do you, punk?

Nascar2 is great in rendition enhanced mode, but ICR2 takes the prize.
It's smooth and fast frame rate transmits a more effective feeling of
involvement.

****************************************************************
http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/terrace/abk85/leeker/index.htm

: I haven't bought a racing sim since Indy 500, but after playing the
: rendition version of ICR2, I'm hooked. However, I've noticed that most
: posts, add-ons, race series, etc deal with Nascar 2 rather than
: Indycar. So, keeping in mind the usual warnings of asking for
: opinions, which is the better game, N2 or ICR2? The one thing I don't
: like about Indy is that the cars seem very fragile, barely brushing a
: wall seems to trash the front suspension. I would imagine that WC cars
: are a little more robust <g>. So, let me know what you think.

First swallow some pride and race in Arcade damage mode.  At least until
you get really good at it.  As to looking for add-ons and race series,
check out some web-sites.  A good place to start your search is
http://www.simracing.com, from here you should find some good links to
other ICR2 related sites.  Also check out Sim Racing News
http://members.aol.com/simracing/index.htm and look over some of the old
issues for ICR2 stuff.  And now for the shameless plug, make sure you
are using the PPG96 carset found at:
http://www.teleport.com/~mcarver/indycar.htm

In N2 you can brush the wall a little bit with your front, but just a
little bit.  If you brush it too hard the rear end will be thrown into
the wall and you will suffer some damage.  Not enough to take you out of
the race, but enough to make you uncompetitive.  It's also possible to
do a little "paint trading" in N2 (which isn't recommended in ICR2).

--
**************************** Michael E. Carver *************************
     Upside out, or inside down...False alarm the only game in town.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=<[ /./.  [-  < ]>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

ICR2 looks great and the sensation of speed is enthralling.  Got me
hooked too!  I bought N2 and it has pretty much dominated my
racing time on the computer since.  I think the AI in N2 is much better.
In ICR2 I have had drivers come up from behind and bump me off
the track in situations where this should not have happened.  
The Car setup screen in N2 is better with the adjustments all on
one screen.  The spotter is a real hoot in N2.  Like you mentioned,
the cars in N2 can take more bumping.  There's nothing like trading
paint on a small track like bristol for a few hundred laps in heavy
traffic.

If I want to impress someone, I show them ICR2.  If I want to race,
it's N2.